PIB Refutes Claims of MIB Notice to Hindi Channels Over Urdu Usage

Swift Summary

• The government on Sunday (September 21, 2025) dismissed as “misleading” media reports claiming that Hindi news channels were issued notices for excessive use of Urdu words in their broadcasts.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), through the PIB Fact Check Unit, clarified that they simply forwarded a viewer’s complaint under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act. It was not a directive from the Ministry itself.
• An official confirmed that forwarding complaints is part of procedures under the Act, which requires concerned channels to address grievances and inform both complainants and the Ministry about actions taken.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The clarification underscores procedural adherence by MIB in addressing public grievances rather than imposing directives on content regulation for linguistic preferences in broadcasts. Forwarding complaints does not equate to censorship or regulatory pressure; it signals an ecosystem where viewers’ concerns can be routed responsibly without overreach by authorities. This reflects a balance between content creators’ freedom and viewers’ rights to voice grievance-critical aspects of India’s media regulatory framework.Read more at The Hindu